No. HB 871
Filed under Healthcare.
Practice of Veterinary Medicine; Provides that specified exemptions apply to licensed & unlicensed veterinary technicians; revises membership of Board of Veterinary Medicine; provides requirements for licensure of veterinary technicians; provides continuing education requirements for renewal of licensed veterinary technicians' licenses; prohibits certain persons from taking specified actions relating to licensure of & use of titles of licensed veterinary technicians; provides criminal penalties; provides grounds for disciplinary actions against applicants for licensure & licensed veterinary technicians; authorizes board to take specified actions against certain persons; provides for reissuance of license to veterinary technician; provides scope of practice relating to licensed veterinary technicians; authorizes veterinary technicians to provide specified services; authorizes supervising veterinarians to delegate specified responsibilities to licensed veterinary technicians; prohibits licensed veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants from taking specified actions or identifying themselves as specified persons.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDA new, state-licensed veterinary technician credential now exists, earned through an accredited degree, a national exam, and a state law test, or through an easier path open to technicians already credentialed by a private trade association.
Licensed technicians can now perform specific procedures under a veterinarian's supervision, including suturing skin lacerations, epidurals, blood draws for transfusions, and rabies vaccinations, though they still cannot diagnose, prescribe, or operate.
The Board of Veterinary Medicine grows from seven to nine members, adding two seats reserved for licensed veterinary technicians alongside its five veterinarian and two public seats.
Falsely claiming to be a licensed veterinary technician becomes a first-degree misdemeanor, a lesser charge than the felony that already applies to falsely claiming to be a veterinarian.
AIVeterinary technicians can now become state-licensed for the first time, by graduating an accredited degree program, passing the national Veterinary Technician National Exam, and demonstrating knowledge of state law.
AIUnder a supervising veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician may now perform an enumerated list of procedures, from catheterization and euthanasia to suturing and dental extractions, that were not previously assigned by statute to any licensed non-veterinarian role.
AIEven with the new procedure list, a licensed veterinary technician still cannot diagnose or give a prognosis, perform surgery, or prescribe medical drugs or controlled substances, preserving those tasks for veterinarians alone.
AIA technician who is already in good standing with a private trade association as of the bill's effective date can get the new state license just by applying and showing knowledge of the law, skipping the accredited-degree and national-exam requirements.
AIThe Board of Veterinary Medicine grows from seven to nine members: five licensed veterinarians, two licensed veterinary technicians with at least five years of practice, and two laypersons.
AIFalsely claiming to be a licensed veterinary technician, or using that title without a license, is a first-degree misdemeanor, a lighter charge than the third-degree felony that already covers falsely claiming to be a veterinarian.
AIA licensed veterinary technician working under a veterinarian's supervision may now vaccinate dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies directly, a task previously reserved to veterinarians and specifically authorized laypeople.
AIA supervising veterinarian may hand off day-to-day oversight of an unlicensed employee's tasks to a licensed veterinary technician, except for the specific procedures reserved to licensed technicians and veterinarians themselves.